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New Jersey enacted legislation on Thursday banning some convicted sex offenders from using the Internet. In signing the restrictions into law, Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, who is filling in while Gov. Jon S. Corzine is vacationing, noted that sexual predators were as likely to lurk at a computer keyboard as in a park or playground. No federal law restricts sex offenders’ use of the Internet, and Florida and Nevada are the only other states to impose such restrictions. The bill applies to anyone who used a computer to help commit the original sex crime. It also may be applied to paroled sex offenders under lifetime supervision, but it exempts work done as part of a job or search for employment. In addition, the state can force sex offenders to install hardware or software monitoring systems on computer equipment, submit to unannounced searches of any computer equipment, and get written permission before using a computer or the Internet.

“No matter how much you trust your kids, no matter how much you think you know what they’re doing, there are some sick people out there that will stop at nothing to prey on them,” said Acting Governor Richard Codey (Governor Jon Corzine is on vacation). “This legislation will give us some of the toughest tools in the nation to crack down on the growing threat of Internet predators. Hopefully this law will help a lot of parents sleep easier at night.” But while sex offenders’ Internet usage will now be supervised closer than Michael Vick at a dog show, the public can use the Internet to find plenty of information about the offenders. Like many states, New Jersey has slapped its sex offender database online. Concerned parents can look up the names, addresses, date of birth, photos, identifying marks, and crime details for any registered sex offender in the state. Finally a meaningful bill which could actually do some good…

Source: NY Times, Ars Technica

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